Extremist Jewish settlers eye Gaza as they seek to expel Palestinians from enclave
Extremist Jewish settler groups, led by figures like Daniella Weiss, are advocating for the establishment of Jewish communities in Gaza and the expulsion of its Palestinian population. Once on the political fringes, these groups have gained traction in Israel following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Their calls for resettlement and ethnic cleansing have drawn international condemnation, despite not being officially endorsed by Prime Minister Netanyahu.
- ▪Extremist settler leader Daniella Weiss and her group Nachala aim to establish Jewish communities in Gaza and remove all Palestinians from the enclave.
- ▪Support for resettling Gaza has grown in Israel since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, with some Knesset members calling for Israeli control over the strip.
- ▪Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has publicly supported making Gaza entirely Jewish, though Prime Minister Netanyahu claims not to back resettlement.
- ▪The movement has faced international backlash, including sanctions from the British government in May 2025.
- ▪Nachala and similar groups reject both the two-state and one democratic state solutions, advocating instead for complete Israeli control and the elimination of Palestinian presence in Gaza.
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Middle East ConflictExtremist Jewish settlers eye Gaza, seek to expel Palestinians from enclaveAfter years on the political fringes, support for making the war-torn Palestinian enclave into a Jewish community is gaining support across Israel.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleAs Gaza struggles to rebuild, some hard-line Israelis call for settlement of the enclave03:07Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 17, 2026, 5:30 AM EDTBy Shira Pinson and Matt BradleyGAZA BORDER, Israel — A river of Israeli flags winds through a desert path as hundreds of people, young and old, march toward the border in a display of their determination to build new Jewish settlements atop the rubble of northern Gaza.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get…
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